. >> it was a test for both of us. but that was the foundation of our relationship. >>> facing the fiscal cliff, now, the president's week is packed with meetings about it. tomorrow and wednesday he'll talk with business leaders and labor representatives, in preparation of his first round of bipartisan talks with congressional leaders on friday. >> reporter: today, top democrats drew a hard line. it's higher taxes on the wealthy or the nation goes over the fiscal cliff. >> if the republicans will not agree with in a, we will reach a point at the end of this year where all the tax cuts expire. and we'll start over next year. >> reporter: this, as one influential conservative called on republicans to give ground. >> let's have a serious debate. let's not scream and yell. it won't hurt the company. half of them voted democratic and half of them live in hollywood. >> reporter: but house speaker john boehner rejects any hike in tax rates. he would raise revenues by closing loopholes in the tax code. >> raising tax rates wil